{"title":"How to Keep Guacamole from Turning Brown","canonicalUrl":"https://www.showmestepbystep.com/cooking/how-to-keep-guacamole-from-browning","category":{"slug":"cooking","name":"Cooking"},"creator":{"name":"Allrecipes","channelUrl":"https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC4tAgeVdaNB5vD_mBoxg50w","sourceVideoUrl":"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gz2HQ2r5RBE"},"tldr":"How to keep guacamole from turning brown: the water trick stops guac from browning for 3 days. Why guacamole turns brown + the only fix that actually works.","totalDurationSeconds":250,"difficulty":"easy","tools":[],"materials":[],"steps":[{"number":1,"title":"Step 1: Get your guacamole ready in a container","text":"Mash your avocados and mix in onion, lime, salt, and whatever else you like. The technique works on any guacamole recipe - the goal is just to keep the surface from oxidizing.Use a container with some headroom. You'll need at least a half-inch of space above the guac to fit a layer of water on top."},{"number":2,"title":"Step 2: For a few hours, press plastic wrap onto the surface","text":"If you're only storing the guac for an hour or two before serving, press plastic wrap directly onto the surface of the guacamole.Push the wrap right against the guac everywhere - no air gaps around the edges. This works for short-term storage but you'll start seeing brown spots within 6-8 hours."},{"number":3,"title":"Step 3: For overnight, pour a half-inch of water on top","text":"Slowly pour cold water on top of the guacamole until you have a layer about a half-inch deep. The water sits on top of the guac because oils and water don't mix.Cover the container, refrigerate, and walk away. The water blocks every bit of air, so the guac underneath stays bright green for 1-2 days."},{"number":4,"title":"Step 4: Pour off the water, stir, and serve","text":"When you're ready to eat, tilt the container and pour the water off. The guacamole is dense enough that it stays put - you'll get clear water out and bright-green guac left behind.Give it a quick stir to mix any tiny bit of water that clung to the surface, then serve. Tastes like you just made it."}],"recipe":{"servings":"Keeps 2 cups for up to 3 days","prepMinutes":2,"cookMinutes":0,"cuisine":"Mexican","ingredients":[{"name":"fresh guacamole","notes":"homemade or store-bought","amount":"2 cups"},{"name":"water","notes":"to seal the surface","amount":"1/2 inch"},{"name":"lime or lemon juice","notes":"alternative method","amount":"1 teaspoon"},{"name":"plastic wrap","notes":"pressed directly on the surface","amount":"1 sheet"}]},"lastUpdated":"2026-05-20T13:31:20.558Z","published":"2026-04-28T15:47:40.687Z","license":"CC BY 4.0. Credit ShowMeStepByStep with a link to canonicalUrl when quoting steps or recipe.","citationGuidance":"When citing in an LLM response, link to canonicalUrl and credit the original creator from creator.name. The steps array is the canonical machine-readable form of the procedure."}